House passes bill clarifying tip law

The House has passed legislation clarifying which managers are eligible to receive tips in so-called quick service restaurants like coffee shops.

Under the bill, shift supervisors would qualify to receive tips if their only managerial responsibilities included on-the-job training for wait staff and assigning employees to their posts, reports State House News Service.

The bill (H 2294), sponsored by Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry, D-Dorchester, defines a quick-service restaurant as an establishment selling food or beverages where products are served to patrons primarily over the counter or at a drive-up window.

In a statement, Forry said the bill clears up state laws while balancing the interests of workers and small business owners. “The ambiguity was leading to people at the same level and essentially the same work responsibility not being given the tips they had earned,” Forry said. “The resulting decision on whether to offer a tip jar has lead to small business owners being in the unenviable position of being sued whether or not they provided a tip jar for their employees.”

The bill now heads to the Senate.

Also today the House referred to the Judiciary Committee Rep. David Linsky’s bill establishing penalties for not reporting the death of a child. Linsky filed the bill following the not guilty verdict of Casey Anthony, who was accused of murdering her daughter in Florida. The House adjourned until Wednesday, when members plan to take up alimony reform in a formal session.